The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Exhibition Coordinator / Event Assistant
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering administrative tasks, understanding event timelines, basic supplier communication, on-site support, and meticulous data entry. Basically, getting all the foundational stuff absolutely spot-on.
You're ready to move on when
- You can manage a complex set of tasks for a specific event component (e.g., speaker travel, small supplier orders) with minimal supervision.
- You're consistently hitting deadlines and your work is organised and accurate.
- You're starting to proactively identify potential issues and suggest solutions, not just report problems.
- You've shown a keen interest in taking on more responsibility and learning new aspects of event management.
- 2
Marketing Coordinator (with event focus)
3-4 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding event marketing campaigns, attendee acquisition strategies, content creation for events, and basic analytics. You'll need to bridge the gap between marketing and operations.
You're ready to move on when
- You've successfully managed marketing campaigns for events, driving registrations or exhibitor interest.
- You understand the operational implications of marketing decisions and can communicate effectively with event teams.
- You're eager to get more hands-on with the logistical side of event delivery and see the full picture.
- You've shown strong project management skills in your marketing roles, particularly with event-related projects.
- 3
Junior Project Manager (from a different industry)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Transferring core project management principles (planning, risk management, stakeholder communication) to the unique context of live events. You'll need to learn the industry specifics quickly.
You're ready to move on when
- You've managed projects with multiple dependencies and tight deadlines in a previous role.
- You're a quick learner and can demonstrate a genuine passion for the events industry.
- You're excellent at managing diverse stakeholders and keeping projects on track.
- You've shown you can adapt your project management skills to new and sometimes chaotic environments.